When a toy intended to bring joy to your child becomes the source of harm, it's a heartbreaking and stressful experience for any family. Dangerous toy injuries can lead to physical pain, emotional distress, and unexpected medical bills.
If your child has been injured by a defective or hazardous toy, Kline & Specter, a seasoned firm with over 50 attorneys, is here to help. Our experienced product liability attorneys have the expertise to guide you through this challenging time.
Common Causes of Dangerous Toy Injuries
Toys are supposed to be safe, but when manufacturers fail to follow safety regulations, they put children's health and lives at risk. Common causes of toy-related injuries include:
- Choking Hazards: Toys with small parts can break off, posing a serious risk for young children.
- Toxic Materials: Lead-based paints, harmful chemicals, or unsafe plastics can cause severe health problems.
- Sharp Edges: Poorly designed toys with sharp or rough surfaces can lead to cuts and bruises.
- Strangulation Risks: Long cords or strings attached to toys can present strangulation hazards.
Manufacturers and retailers must meet strict safety standards created by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). When these standards are ignored, the consequences can be devastating.
What Happens in a Toy Injury Lawsuit?
A dangerous toy injury lawsuit provides families a pathway to seek justice and hold negligent parties accountable. These lawsuits generally involve:
- Product Liability Claims: Injuries caused by defective designs, poor manufacturing, or inadequate safety warnings.
- Legal Representation: Working with an experienced attorney to prove liability and negotiate or litigate for fair compensation.
You may wonder if you have a case or who is responsible. The liable party could include the toy manufacturer, retailer, or distributor. It depends on the circumstances of the defect or injury. By filing a lawsuit, you may be able to recover damages for medical expenses, emotional trauma, and other losses.
At Kline & Specter, we provide compassionate legal support to families navigating these cases. We understand the complexities involved and work hard to build a strong case on your behalf.
Why You Need a Toy Injury Attorney
Handling a dangerous toy injury case without legal assistance can be overwhelming. These cases require:
- In-Depth Knowledge of Product Liability Laws: Understanding state and federal regulations is crucial for proving negligence.
- Evidence Gathering and Analysis: Expert testimony and thorough documentation are often required to demonstrate fault.
- Negotiation and Litigation Skills: Insurance companies and manufacturers may try to minimize your claim.
The attorneys at Kline & Specter have extensive experience with personal injury and product liability cases. We're committed to ensuring your family gets the justice and compensation you need to move forward.
Dangerous Toy Injuries in the News
More than 200,000 children are hurt each year in the United States while playing with toys, suffering injuries serious enough to require treatment in hospital emergency rooms.
In one case, for example, Mattel, the world's largest toy maker, recalled nearly 20 million toys because of various problems with Chinese-made products.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has also announced the recalls of many dangerous toys, but hazardous items remain available. In one case successfully litigated by Kline & Specter, a Pennsylvania teenager was shot through the skull by a defective Daisy BB gun, suffering severe brain damage and eventually death. (See the Mahoney Case)
Among the latest toys to come under scrutiny are the popular fidget spinner and, most recently, battery-operated fidget spinners. Incidents of the toys catching fire while being charged have been reported, as well as parts being swallowed by small children who placed them in their mouths. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned that plastic and metal toys can break and release small pieces that can be a choking hazard.
If your child has been seriously injured in a toy-related accident, you may want to call 215-772-1000 for a free case evaluation.
See Tom Kline's Fox-TV interview on unsafe toys.
Click here for information about unsafe Chinese products.
A leading cause of death among young children is choking, mostly on small balls, balloons, and tiny toy parts. (One safety group suggests using a toilet paper tube to test for size; objects that fit through the tube are too small for younger children.) Entanglement in certain toys also poses a risk to small children.
In 2007, for instance, the CPSC announced the recall of more than four million Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets after children swallowed small magnets and suffered intestinal injuries. At least one child died, and more than two dozen required surgery.
One watchdog group, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), which conducts independent toy surveys in New York state, said in a report that it discovered toys for sale that violated the federal ban on small parts in toys and other products that lacked required warning labels.
The group also found latex balloons marketed to children younger than eight years old; PIRG recommends that children that young never be given balloons to play with. Packages of uninflated balloons are supposed to carry age restriction labels. However, some do not, and others are sold loose in bins that do not have warnings.
Why Choose Kline & Specter?
Founded in 1995, Kline & Specter has a long track record of winning multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured clients. It's home to over 50 experienced attorneys, including five who are also medical doctors. This combination of legal and medical expertise ensures a comprehensive approach to toy injury cases.
Schedule a Case Review
If your child has been injured by a dangerous toy, don't wait to take action. The experienced attorneys at Kline & Specter are here to provide the support and legal guidance you need. Call us at 215-772-1000 or complete our online contact form to schedule your consultation.
Kline & Specter provides free and confidential evaluations of potential cases. Kline & Specter handles cases in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York. For cases outside those states, we work with local attorneys as applicable.
Click here to visit the CPSC website to see more dangerous toys and products.